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I was almost sure that Dell hid a partition with all the restoration stuff on it, including drivers and software. But I'm not finding any way to even see or access it. Basically I want to start over and restore everything the way it was the first day. Anyone ideas?
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Download Linux Knoppix STD, that's what I used and I think you can find just about anything with that, no matter how hidden it is.
http://www.knoppix-std.org/
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Sorry, this will probably not allow you to restore your settings and stuff but you WILL be able to get the drivers and everything you need. You might find pack files WITH your previos data in them, but they might be tricky to unpack. I'm sure there is an easier way but if I was you, and if I had a lot of time on my hands, that could be one way.
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cykage
even if it was a gift they should have had the Dell CDs with it...
..I can't say for certain since I don't have a DELL but from Computer conversations with a friend who has - I don't think DELLs do have a Hidden Partition - the OS is on one of the 'recovery' CDs as far as I know and Drivers etc on another
Any Dell Users confirm...??
Lesley
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start disk defragmenter
this way you should see a hidden partition
if there isn't one visible there, it's not there
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Dell doesn't use a hidden partition anymore.Hasn't for a long while. Contact dell and use the code on the pc to see what it had in it to begin with as for software and hardware specs, then look it up and download drivers etc.. It will run cleaner that way without the third party garbage.
They will also replace the cd(s) for a nominal charge, if you prefer.IN THE MATTERS OF STYLE,
swim with the current;
in matters of principle,
STAND LIKE A ROCK
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The hidden partition on Dell is just the Dell Diagnostics. You might as well just get rid of that partition when you format. As said above, the Dell's come with an OS CD and a driver CD. If you don't have the OS CD, I believe Dell is going to tell you to go out to a store and buy one. Drivers, etc, are available on Dell's sites for download.
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Hello everybody! I know I'm the exception here, but (surprisingly) Dell sent me their Application CD at no charge, and they even sent it out asap by Airbourne Express.
But, this was because I spoke to their upper level management, and was highly critical about their tech support in India.I told them that one of their techs misguided me over the phone, led me through some registry editing, and I lost the "Disk Cleanup" utility on my pc, as well as Photo-Shop Pro. Basically made a mess out of my pc that was not recoverable.
They were very apologetic, and sent me the CD's asap. Now, I don't know what precisely
cykage (original poster) situation is, but maybe you could call their corporate headquarters in Texas. At least there, you will get some people who speak the English language clearly. If you have ever needed to call Dell tech support in India, then you know first-hand what I mean. Good luck; hope you get it straightened out.~Tommyo
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My cousin has a new Dell. It only has a tools partition and it IS hidden. But no recovery partition. It should have came with at least 3 disk a OS disk a Drivers disk and i think a programs disk not sure what the last one is.
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ZZtop is the "secret" utility that Dell used to put on all it's machines with the hidden partition (which contained a "mirror" image of what the machine "looked like" when it came out of the box.
If you are lucky enough to have this utility and a hidden partition on that machine, you'll be able to use ZZtop to restore the hard drive to "like new" condition, assuming there aren't any physical problems with the drive.
Good Luck! I'm actually hoping to find the same situation on an older Dell I'm going to set up for my brother tomorrow. May the "gods of system restoration" be with us -- haha!
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I actually work for Dell.
There does happen to an image restore utility on some OLDER dell models, that uses "zztop" as mentioned before.
Also.. recently we started placing a Ghost imaging utilty on some Dimension and Inspiron systems (that shipped after 7/15/2004) It will wipe your partition and restore it to factory, and is accessable by pressing Ctrl+F11 at the Dell Logo when the system starts up.
All other Systems WILL from factory have a hidden partition for the Diags, commonly referred to the "utility partition" you can get it by pressing F12.
-Todd
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Hey guys, I've also been a computer tech for a good long time now. I'm currently working on a s--- load of my buddy's dells, some of the have this problem weith the passwords.....It's so stupid. I cant begin to tell you. We've tried almost every way , shape , form to get it off. Nothing, If the hidden partition is there how do you access it. ? cant go past the start up screen!
Turn on computer, get a nice white screen telling me the hard disk is password protected but if i plug it into a desktop it can be accessed. The only other partition i can see is called DIAGS number one, I cant access this, number 2, if i can where do i start? will this ZZtop be accessed from that DIAGS partition?
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Yes there is a hidden diagnostics partition.
If you delete it you can not get it back. once you delete it Dell does not see fit to give you a way to replace it. Once you delete it or go to a new larger drive; the system will hang at bios completeion for about 3 min while it looks for this partiton of NON STANDARD FORMAT. Then it will ask you to press F1 or F2 to complete booting. It is a sneaky way of Dell forcing you to buy hard drive upgrades from them. Sound like Bill Gates doesn't it.
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